11 Active communities link worker jobs in London

About the role:

For women facing multiple disadvantage, the right support can be the difference between remaining trapped by systems and beginning to rebuild safety, choice and control. As our Specialist Multiple Disadvantage Worker at Grace House, you’ll provide skilled, persistent and compassionate support to women whose experiences may include homelessness, domestic abuse, trauma, substance use, poor mental health and contact with the criminal justice system.

Using a gender and trauma-informed approach, you’ll build trusting relationships and work alongside women at their own pace. You’ll manage complex casework, advocate firmly on their behalf and help navigate services and systems that can often feel fragmented or difficult to access. You’ll use creativity, professional judgement and tenacity to challenge barriers and help women move forward on their own terms.

You’ll also bring your expertise into multi-agency discussions, ensuring women’s voices, experiences and priorities remain central to the decisions made about their support. Working closely with colleagues and external partners, you’ll help shape responsive, coordinated support and contribute to the continued development of practice across Grace House.

This is an opportunity to deepen your specialist skills, take real ownership of your work and make a visible difference in women’s lives. You’ll be supported by an experienced team, reflective practice and ongoing learning and development at Single Homeless Project (SHP), giving you the tools and confidence to grow while delivering support that genuinely changes lives.

*For genuine occupational requirement reasons, we are seeking applications from women only for this post (exemption under the Equality Act 2010; Schedule 9 Part 1). 

About you:

• You know how to build trust with women who may have been let down by services before, working with patience, honesty and consistency.
• You bring strong experience of supporting women facing multiple disadvantage and understand how trauma, abuse, homelessness, poor mental health and substance use can overlap.
• You stay calm when situations are complex, using sound judgement to assess risk, make decisions and keep support moving forward.
• You are a determined advocate who will challenge barriers, bring partners together and keep pushing when systems are not responding.
• You are reflective, curious and ready to deepen your specialist practice, with support, supervision and development opportunities at SHP.

About us:

We’re London’s leading homelessness charity – and we get things done.

In a city where hundreds are forced into homelessness every day, our work has never been more needed or more challenging. And we’re not shying away. We’re rolling up our sleeves to make change and helping over 10,000 Londoners every year. We prevent homelessness, provide safe places to live and give people the opportunity to rebuild their lives and transform their futures. And we never give up. 

We’re here for Londoners wherever they are on their journey. We start with trust, building relationships that help people feel safe, supported, and ready to move forward. Every day, we put people first in everything we do, challenging injustice and barriers that keep people from the safety, stability and opportunity they deserve. We stand alongside people as they rebuild and shape a future that feels their own. 

Joining Single Homeless Project means joining a team that’s bold, compassionate and determined to do better for the people we support and for each other. You’ll work alongside colleagues with lived experience, in a space that’s trans-inclusive, disability-friendly, and actively striving to be anti-oppressive and equitable. 

We’re not perfect, but we’re real. We listen. We learn. And we push forward, together. Because this isn’t just a job. It’s a chance to lead with empathy, spark change, and help build a London where no one is left behind.

Important info:

Applications will be reviewed and suitable candidates invited to interview online as they are received. Therefore, please submit your application as soon as possible to be considered. We reserve the right to close the vacancy as soon as a suitable candidate is identified. 

Please note there will be a second stage interview in service in Camden for suitable candidates. 

This post will require an Enhanced DBS check to be processed (by SHP) for the successful applicant.

Please note applications are reviewed for AI use in application questions. Applications with insufficient right to work or requiring sponsorship will not be accepted for this role. 

About the role:

As a Project Worker at our Stacey Street service in Islington, you’ll support adults who have experienced homelessness or rough sleeping to rebuild stability and move towards independent living. This is a hands-on role in a busy hostel environment where no two days are the same.

You’ll work directly with residents who may be navigating challenges linked to mental health, substance use, trauma or contact with the criminal justice system. Through strengths-based support planning and clear risk management, you’ll help individuals identify goals, overcome barriers and take practical steps forward. From supporting someone to engage with treatment, to sustaining a tenancy or accessing training and employment, your work will focus on realistic, sustainable progress.

Day to day, you’ll build trusted relationships whilst maintaining professional boundaries. You’ll collaborate with internal teams and external partners to coordinate the right support at the right time, ensuring residents are prepared for successful move-on. You’ll keep accurate records, respond calmly in challenging situations and contribute to a psychologically informed environment where people feel respected and motivated to change.

This role is about creating momentum. By helping residents move from crisis towards stability, you’ll play a key part in freeing up hostel spaces for others in urgent need and strengthening SHP’s mission to end homelessness for good. If you’re resilient, person-centred and motivated by seeing people take meaningful steps forward, this is your opportunity to make a tangible impact every day.

About you:

• A non-judgemental approach to working with multi-disadvantaged clients and to promote a strengths-based approach.
• Strong team-working and interpersonal skills, maintaining a collaborative approach to delivering service objectives across work specialisms.
• Experience helping people to identify personal goals and supporting them through a process of change, including managing challenging situations in relation to people, including responding calmly to crisis and deal promptly, effectively and safely to complex situations.
• Strong time management skills, ability to work on own initiative, manage competing priorities and maintain high standards.
• Willingness and ability to work on a rota system of early and late shifts, which may include some variable hours including some evenings and weekends.

About us:

We’re London’s leading homelessness charity – and we get things done.

In a city where hundreds are forced into homelessness every day, our work has never been more needed or more challenging. And we’re not shying away. We’re rolling up our sleeves to make change and helping over 10,000 Londoners every year. We prevent homelessness, provide safe places to live and give people the opportunity to rebuild their lives and transform their futures. And we never give up. 

We’re here for Londoners wherever they are on their journey. We start with trust, building relationships that help people feel safe, supported, and ready to move forward. Every day, we put people first in everything we do, challenging injustice and barriers that keep people from the safety, stability and opportunity they deserve. We stand alongside people as they rebuild and shape a future that feels their own. 

Joining Single Homeless Project means joining a team that’s bold, compassionate and determined to do better for the people we support and for each other. You’ll work alongside colleagues with lived experience, in a space that’s trans-inclusive, disability-friendly, and actively striving to be anti-oppressive and equitable. 

We’re not perfect, but we’re real. We listen. We learn. And we push forward, together. Because this isn’t just a job. It’s a chance to lead with empathy, spark change, and help build a London where no one is left behind.

Important info:

Closing Date: Sunday 27th September at midnight

Interview date: Tuesday 6th October at our Stacey Street service in Islington

Please note there will be a second stage interview in Islington for suitable candidates

This post will require an Enhanced DBS check to be processed (by SHP) for the successful applicant. 

Please note applications are reviewed for AI use in application questions. Applications with insufficient right to work or requiring sponsorship will not be accepted for this role. 

An exciting opportunity!

This is a rare and genuinely exciting opportunity to lead the UK's only dedicated charity supporting children, adults and families affected by MPS, Fabry disease and related lysosomal storage disorders. Following the current Chief Executive's planned move to become Managing Director of Rare Disease Research Partners (RDRP) in January 2027, the incoming CEO will take the helm of an organisation with over forty years of history, a trusted national reputation and a growing role on the international rare disease stage. The successful candidate will shape the strategic vision for more than 1,800 families, oversee the close partnership between the Society and its research subsidiary RDRP, and champion the patient and family ethos that sits at the heart of the organisation's work. It is an opportunity to combine ambitious strategic leadership with deeply meaningful, human impact, working alongside a committed Board, Senior Leadership Team and wider community of clinicians, researchers and pharmaceutical partners.

As our next Chief Executive, you will

• Define and deliver the MPS Society’s strategic vision.
• Provide confident oversight of governance, finance, compliance and reporting.
• Effectively manage the operational alignment between the MPS Society and RDRP.
• Always keep the members and family voice at the heart of strategy, service design and decision-making.
• Build and maintain senior-level relationships with statutory bodies, government agencies, pharmaceutical partners, clinical expert centres and other key stakeholders to support the Society’s objectives, influence policy and practice, and protect its professional reputation.
• Act as a visible and credible public voice to raise awareness, improve visibility, support, treatment access and outcomes for people affected by MPS, Fabry disease and related conditions.
• Collaborate with other rare disease bodies, patient organisations and other key audiences.
• Lead and empower the senior leadership team through effective delegation, early involvement in strategic discussions, clear accountability and support for individuals to flourish.
• Encourage an open, supportive work environment allowing creativity and building staff confidence.
• Help shape the future of the MPS Society.

About you

•  Self-motivated, with the drive to lead the organisation through a period of change and transition.
• Unquestionable probity and personal integrity, given the trust placed in the CEO by families, trustees and partners.
• Exemplary written and verbal communication skills, able to convey complex scientific and clinical information to audiences ranging from clinicians to families with no prior knowledge of MPS disorders.
• Strong self-awareness, with insight into their own leadership style and impact on others.
• Emotional resilience, able to sustain performance while supporting a community facing life limiting conditions.
• A collaborative and empowering leadership style, able to build trust, delegate effectively and help individuals across the organisation flourish.
• Genuine passion for the Society's mission, with a family and member-first ethos.
• Confidence to build relationships across a wide range of stakeholders, from beneficiaries and Trustees to politicians, media and pharmaceutical partners.
• A proactive, positive approach, comfortable reacting to change and organising their own work to meet deadlines.
• Confidence speaking publicly on behalf of the organisation and the people it represents.

Why join us?

A close-knit, values-led culture. With just over thirty staff across the Society and RDRP combined, this is a place where the CEO can know the team personally, work closely with families day-to-day, and see the direct results of decisions rather than managing at a distance through layers of bureaucracy.

• Genuine autonomy to shape direction. The Board is explicitly looking to the new CEO to bring fresh thinking on technology, AI, and digital tools, and to give real freedom to modernise fundraising, services, and engagement rather than simply maintaining what already exists.
• A stable foundation to build from over forty years of track record, trusted relationships and a strong national reputation mean the incoming CEO can focus energy on vision and growth rather than firefighting or rebuilding credibility from scratch.
• Proximity to cutting-edge science: the Society's close relationship with RDRP gives the CEO regular exposure to advances in rare disease research and treatment access, while day-to-day research leadership sits with the RDRP Managing Director, allowing the CEO to focus on strategy, people and sustainability.
• A high-visibility, high-influence platform. Regular contact with government, pharmaceutical companies, clinicians and international rare disease bodies offers strong opportunities to build a public profile and personal network well beyond the charity sector.
• A team that already shares the mission. Staff are described as passionate about the Society's aims, and as having a family-first ethos, so the new CEO inherits a culture to lead and empower rather than one that needs to be built from the ground up.
• Work with a different kind of return. Beyond salary and career progression, this role offers the less tangible reward of knowing that strategic and financial decisions translate, into better support for families facing some of the rarest conditions in the country.

Benefits

Join us and you will be working for a caring charity offering:

• A competitive salary
• Generous annual leave
• Extra leave between Christmas and the New Year
• Contributory pension
• Life assurance (subject to the conditions of the scheme)
• Employee assistance programme offering support 24/7

Further information

The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the UK.

The main duties, responsibilities and requirements of this role can be viewed in the job description on our website.

Salary to be agreed depending on experience and will be pro-rata for part time hours.

This is an essential car user post. The applicant must hold a current UK driver’s licence, with no more than 6 points, have access to a car and be able and willing to drive UK wide as required.

This senior role requires flexibility in working hours and location.  It is primarily offered on a hybrid basis with a minimum of 2 days in our Amersham, Buckinghamshire, office each week. As part of the role, UK and overseas travel is necessary, which may on occasion include early morning and/or evening working and sometimes overnight stays. We have policies in place to ensure that any unsociable hours worked over the weekend are fairly compensated through TOIL.

This role will require an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring check (DBS) details of which can be found in the job description.

For an informal discussion about the role or the work of the MPS Society, please contact Dr Fiona Stewart.  Contact details can be found on the full job description. Kindly note, meetings with other relevant people will be available to shortlisted candidates at interview stage.  

The Baobab Centre is a non-residential therapeutic community supporting unaccompanied minors who have experienced human rights abuses and are seeking asylum, refugee status and settlement in the United Kingdom.

The role of a Therapeutic Community Caseworker at the Baobab Centre is to support unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee adolescents and young adults to access care, basic rights and entitlements and to support their social development and rehabilitation.This role involves working closely with the clinical key worker of each young person and with our wider multidisciplinary team. As a Caseworker you will aim to empower individuals to build stable, independent lives in the UK, including by supporting them to communicate their views, needs and experiences in decision-making processes, and supporting them to make challenges when necessary. Caseworkers assist young people to make effective choices about what happens in their lives and encourage them to speak up and build agency.

Baobab aims to be a non-residential therapeutic community with a holistic and integrated perspective.As a Caseworker, you will play a key role within our multidisciplinary team. We aim to be a thinking organisation and place a high value on shared thinking time and shared responsibilities. Our team work together with each other and with agencies and key individuals in young people’s lives, both within and outside of Baobab. A key aspect of the role is communicating with members of the clinical and admin staff team within the Baobab Centre and with other workers in the network around each young person including social workers, teachers, foster carers, lawyers, hospital consultants, housing and benefits workers. etc. You will strive to develop relationships across networks and advocate access to rights and entitlements for our community members. 

It is critical that as a Caseworker: 

• you have an insight to the backgrounds and experiences of both the internal and external factors impacting on the lives of unaccompanied young people attending our centre and an understanding of the broader context in our society as it impacts on young asylum seekers (including invisibility, marginalisation, discrimination and the fact of waiting in uncertainty for a long time.

• You have an insight in how trauma and the many human rights violations and persecution that most members of our community have experienced impact on all aspects of a young person’s internal and external world. 

• You have an insight in how current immigration rules and social care system procedures act as barriers to rehabilitation, including by restricting access to education, adequate benefits, housing and healthcare provision.

Role: Engagement Advice Worker – Better Together Service

Location: Lambeth, London (Community-based with flexible working)

Package: Generous Pension (7% Employer Contribution) | 26 Days Annual Leave + Bank Holidays (rising to 31 days) | Kind, Inclusive Culture

Why Join Age UK Lambeth?

At Age UK Lambeth, we believe getting older should be celebrated, not sidelined. We exist to challenge the stigma of ageing, tackle social isolation, and make sure older adults get the right support at the precise moment they need it.

We’re a learning space, not a knowing space, which means we listen, adapt, and build real relationships with our community. If you are passionate about empathy, human connections, and driving meaningful local change, you’ll fit right in.

The Role: What You’ll Be Doing

Gambling-related harm often goes unnoticed, carrying a heavy stigma for those affected—both directly and indirectly (affected others). Through our Better Together service, you will be on the frontline of changing that narrative in Lambeth.

This role is a dynamic blend of proactive community engagement and impactful, one-to-one support.

Community Engagement and System Change

• Meet people where they are: Take our message straight into the heart of Lambeth—visiting barbershops, faith groups, sports venues, shopping centres, and local cultural hubs.

• Build local alliances: Partner with community leaders, residents, and local organisations to spark open conversations, break down stigma, and drive referrals.

• Educate and inspire: Deliver lively presentations, host information sessions, and help run conferences to train local professionals and raise public awareness while helping to normalise conversations about gambling harms so they are easier to recognise, prevent, and seek support for.

Personalised, Strengths-Based Support

• Provide 1:1 tailored advice: Work directly with adults impacted by gambling harm to identify their strengths, set personal goals, and rebuild their wellbeing.

• Offer holistic social prescribing support: Guide clients toward specialist care (such as the NHS Primary Care Gambling Service) while helping them navigate connected challenges like housing, debt, loneliness, and mental health.

What You’ll Bring to the Team

• Outreach Expertise: Proven experience stepping out into the community, running outreach activities, and speaking confidently to audiences of all sizes.

• Relationship Building: Natural networking skills with a knack for establishing trust with community groups, residents, and multi-agency partners.

• Caseload Management: The ability to work independently, manage shifting priorities, and adapt seamlessly as our service grows.

• Clear Communication: Warm, engaging interpersonal skills paired with clean, accurate record-keeping.

• Empathy & Drive: A genuine commitment to person-centered support and outcome-focused work.

• Energy & Enthusiasm: Bring warmth, energy, and a positive spark to every interaction, making conversations engaging, memorable, and impactful.

Please don’t worry if you do not have experience working with those affected by gambling, Age UK Lambeth will provide full training including Level 2 under the “Don’t Gamble With Health” programme.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• Strong Financial Support: Generous pension plan with a 7% employer contribution.

• Work-Life Balance: 26 days of annual leave (plus public holidays), increasing to 31 days after 5 years.

• A Culture That Cares: Join a supportive, warm team that puts kindness and flexibility at the core of everything we do.

How to Apply

To apply via Quick Apply, please submit:

1. Your updated CV

2. A brief cover letter

3. Short answers to our 4 application questions (max 250 words per question)

A Quick Note on Using AI:

We want to hear your voice! While tools like ChatGPT can be helpful for brainstorming, over-relying on them can make your application sound generic. We strongly encourage authentic, personalised answers so we can get to know the real you and understand your unique passion for this role.

Are you someone who stays steady in moments of crisis, brings empathy to tough conversations, and adds creativity to community spaces?

We are launching an exciting new service which will aid in de-escalating individuals in a state of crisis which is excaberated or influenced by gambling related behaviours,and we’re looking for a Support Worker ready to make a meaningful impact.

What You'll Do

• De‑escalate mental health crises linked to gambling behaviours with calm, confidence and compassion

• Hold your own caseload, offering bespoke 1:1 support around gambling, mental health, finances, housing and more

• Co‑produce psychoeducation workshops exploring root causes of gambling harm

• Create safe, meaningful peer‑led spaces for affected others and loved ones

• Engage in outreach across Hounslow, connecting communities to support

• Collaborate with NHS, Public Health and internal teams to deliver integrated care

• Ensure accurate documentation and safeguarding practice, aligned with policy and legislation

• Finalise case reports with clear preventative outcomes and insights

What We're Looking For

You’re autonomous, creative, and calm under pressure. You’ve worked in mental health and addiction settings. You bring empathy, flexibility, and a non‑judgemental approach to every conversation.

• Minimum of 1 year working in mental health services

• Minimum of 1 year working with those impacted by addiction

• Experience of managing safeguarding risks and understanding legal requirements for safeguarding adults and children

Benefits of working with us

• Contributory pension — A solid pension that supports your future while you support others

• Generous annual leave — 25 days plus bank holidays, rising each year up to 30 days

• Mind Mental Health Day — a day off for your birthday  

• Perkbox wellness hub — Rewards, discounts and wellbeing tools to keep you feeling your best

• Cycle to Work — Save money, stay active and make your commute greener

• Flexible working — Balance life and work with supportive flexibility

• Employee Assistance Programme — Free counselling and confidential support whenever you need it

• Paid medical appointment time — Take care of your health without losing pay

• Training & development — Grow your skills with ongoing learning and professional support

• Mind Federated Network resources — Access shared training, expertise and tools from the wider Mind community

Please find a full JD and Person Specification attached to the ad. 

Spitalfields Crypt Trust (SCT) is an East London charity supporting people affected by homelessness and addiction to rebuild their lives. We are looking for an experienced and inspiring Recovery Community & Therapeutic Service Manager to lead the development, delivery and continuous improvement of our Recovery Community and Therapeutic Service.

This is a part-time role working 28 hours per week and is fully onsite at our Shoreditch hub. There is some flexibility around how the hours are worked across the week, although ideally Friday will be included as a working day.

This is a key leadership role bringing together therapeutic support, aftercare, peer-led activity, volunteering, training and community engagement to create an integrated recovery journey. You will ensure that people accessing SCT's services have opportunities to strengthen their recovery capital, build supportive networks and progress towards greater independence and wellbeing.

Working closely with our Director of Services and colleagues across SCT, you will:

• Lead the ongoing development of SCT's Recovery Community and therapeutic offer.
• Oversee recovery-focused programmes, therapeutic interventions, aftercare and peer-led activities.
• Create meaningful opportunities for people with lived experience to shape services, volunteer, mentor and support others.
• Lead and develop staff, volunteers, peer mentors and facilitators, fostering a positive and inclusive culture.
• Build strong partnerships with commissioners, funders, treatment providers, housing and mental health services and other community organisations.
• Oversee service quality, budgets, monitoring and evaluation, ensuring services are safe, effective and demonstrate positive outcomes.
• Develop pathways into volunteering, employment, education and wider community engagement.

About you

We are looking for someone with significant experience of leading services within recovery, social care, community development, housing, health or a related field. You will have a strong understanding of addiction recovery and the challenges experienced by people affected by homelessness and multiple disadvantage.

You will be a confident and collaborative leader with experience of managing people, developing programmes, building partnerships and delivering measurable outcomes. You'll also bring strong organisational and communication skills, sound judgement and a genuine commitment to person-centred, trauma-informed and recovery-focused practice.

Above all, we're looking for someone who can inspire others, develop strong services and help create an environment in which people in recovery are active participants in their own community.

Location: SCT's Shoreditch hub, London E1
Hours: 28 hours per week, onsite, ideally including Friday as a working day

Please see the attached Job Description for full details of the role, responsibilities and criteria.

We are looking for a person with an understanding of working with a values-driven team of people, in the charity or not-for-profit sector.

The person appointed will have an appreciation of the aims and values of the Sustain alliance and be excited by supporting our organisation in effective ways of working, whilst freeing up senior leaders and spokespeople to undertake influencing, communication, partnership development and fundraising activities.

The Operations and People Manager will help Sustain function effectively as an organisation and be a great place to work. This is a senior, trusted role working closely with the Chief Executive, Senior Leadership Team (SLT), Senior Management Team (SMT), line managers and Trustees to strengthen our people, operational and governance systems.

The post-holder will lead practical improvements in HR, people processes, line management standards, staff development, onboarding, offboarding, organisational culture and compliance. They will combine sound judgement, strong systems thinking and a people-centred approach, helping Sustain keep processes clear, proportionate and well-managed, while supporting colleagues to focus on effective delivery.

The mission of the Sustain alliance is to catalyse systemic change in the UK’s food and farming system – securing a healthy, fair, and sustainable future for all people, nature and a stable climate. Working in collaboration with our alliance members and others, we run a range of advocacy work, projects and campaigns to achieve permanent changes in policy and practice; and to engage more people, organisations and communities in being food system change-makers.

As with all senior roles at Sustain, the person appointed to this role will work mainly at the Sustain office in London during their probationary period, and thereafter at least half of working hours at our office, whilst benefiting from the flexibility offered to all colleagues. This is part of senior role-modelling of the creativity, support, engagement and well-being benefits that in-person working cultivates between colleagues. This will be managed in coordination with other senior colleagues to enable good in-person coverage and connectivity across the week and across common holiday periods.

Role and responsibilities
•Strengthen Sustain’s people, HR, operational and governance systems so that the charity works effectively, fairly and well.
•Help Sustain be a great place to work, with clear standards, supportive line management, good staff development and a positive, inclusive culture.
•Lead on high standards and practical improvements in recruitment; induction; probation; appraisals; people and HR processes; line management skills, knowledge and tools; staff consultation; and organisational policies and practices.
•Support senior leaders, line managers and Trustees with clear advice, reliable processes, good records and proportionate and effective risk management.
•Develop and maintain systems that are simple, useful and appropriate for Sustain’s size, values, resources and legal responsibilities
 

Tasks and responsibilities:

Organisational operations and systems
•Lead on managing and developing the charity’s operational activities.
•Ensure that senior management actions that support operational effectiveness are managed and carried out in a timely way, via an accessible and accountable process.
•Lead and/or participate in a range of internal groups that support operational effectiveness.
•Support the Chief Executive, Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and other relevant staff with governance matters, including:
oReporting to the Council of Trustees on operational and people matters;
oPerformance of the ‘Company Secretary’ role on behalf of Trustees;
oTrustee recruitment, induction and management of necessary information and processes;
oAppropriate compliance with the Charity Governance Code.
•Working with the Chief Executive and Chair of the Council of Trustees, help prepare and coordinate the agendas and the running of the quarterly board meeting and occasional (at least annual) staff and Trustees strategy day, as well as the Sustain AGM, Annual Report and Trustee elections (annual), as one of the key links in communication with and between Sustain’s Council of Trustees.
•Lead on development and implementation of one or more relevant chapter of Sustain’s Organisation Development Plan (ODP).

•Support the planning and running of events, working with Sustain team leads, partners, venues and contributors.
•Work with the Head of Finance, Head of Digital and Design and external suppliers to help ensure office, IT and operational arrangements are appropriate and support effective working.
 

People, HR and employment processes
•Lead development and implementation of HR processes, practical actions and transactions, using external HR and/or legal advisors for authoritative support and advice where needed.
•Lead on full lifecycle support for Sustain staff including:
oEffective and inclusive recruitment, onboarding and offboarding – implementing Sustain’s commitment to recruitment for diversity – working with SMT, finance and admin leads;
oCreating, grading, reviewing and updating job descriptions, working with line managers and the senior leadership team;
oManaging employment contract variances; funding precarity; end-of-contract and risk-of-redundancy processes, working with senior managers, line managers, affected employees and HR/legal advisors;
oCreating or supporting a range of opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds and identities to get involved.
•Act as first point of contact for HR queries, taking ownership of policies and process, culture and employee relations; informed by HR advice, consultation and annual staff survey, including overseeing an action plan to embed areas of good practice, and to pursue improvements in an accountable way.
•Regular review of job descriptions, grades, progression and staff benefits within Sustain to ensure we remain competitive within the sector.
•Provide or commission sector benchmarking data, analysis and recommendations to inform decision-making, using a methodology agreed with Trustee oversight, on matters such financial and non-financial staff benefits.
•Maintain and improve the Staff Handbook, Recruitment Handbook, and related policies, guidance, advice and other support.

Line management standards, learning and staff development
•Lead the development and implementation of clear, practical standards for line management at Sustain, working with SLT, SMT, the Line Managers Forum and external advisers where appropriate.

•Develop and oversee implementation of key processes such as annual appraisals, annual planning and objective-setting, and a suitable performance management process.
•Help ensure objective-setting, personal development and progression conversations are undertaken routinely, and that these and performance management are handled consistently, fairly and in line with Sustain’s values and legal responsibilities.
•Support line managers to run effective 1-to-1s, probation reviews, appraisals, workload conversations, development conversations, and difficult conversations where needed.
•Ensure suitable and sufficient ongoing learning opportunities and training for the staff team and the Line Managers group, driving the charity’s approach to consistent standards, personal development and career progression.
•Maintain and improve the Line Managers Handbook and related tools, templates and guidance.
Culture, EDI, staff voice and union liaison
•Manage and develop Sustain as a great place to work, with a working culture and practices that support effective delivery, as well as health, wellbeing and personal development.
•Serve as an active member of the Diversity Group, to implement and innovate on equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism, and to gather data to measure and report on impact and progress.
•Working with the CEO, provide a route for requests and suggestions from the Health and Wellbeing Group to be properly considered and actioned as appropriate.
•Develop and support ways for staff voices to be heard and influence policies, practices and organisational culture, and for staff to be able to raise ideas and concerns confidently and see actions taken as a result.
•Support structured staff consultation and union liaison processes, helping ensure they are well-organised, transparent, well-documented and conducted in line with Sustain's policies and recognition arrangements.

Governance, compliance and risk management
•Develop and update key resources, contributing to useful reference sets such as the Staff Handbook, Recruitment Handbook and Line Managers Handbook, including overseeing production, maintenance and updating of all policies, procedures and guidance relevant to operations and people.
•Ensure Sustain complies with all employment, health and safety, data protection, charity legislation and statutory guidance including filing at Companies House and maintaining organisational records with the Charity Commission, and managing the risk register and internal policies tracker.

•Ensure adherence to health, safety, diversity and safeguarding procedures in the office, in hybrid working and for events and activities; undertaking comprehensive risk assessments for events and activities; and ensuring appropriate risk mitigation, staff communication and updates to guidance.
Other
•Potential for this role to line-manage one or more member of staff, volunteer, paid intern and/or external consultant, offering 1-to-1 support for objective-setting, work delivery, coaching and pastoral matters.
•Any other reasonable tasks and duties, agreed with the Chief Executive, consistent with the nature and level of the role.

Person specification / What we’re looking for:

Qualifications and requirements
•Significant experience operating at a senior level in a people, HR, operations or an organisation development role, including responsibility for organisational systems and staff management. [E]
•Experience of working in a charity, not-for-profit, campaigning, membership, alliance or other values-led organisation. [D]
•Demonstrable commitment to the operations and people role through a relevant qualification, training or other continuing professional development (CPD). [D]
 

Experience
•Significant experience leading organisational, people or operational improvement and advising senior decision-makers. [E]
•Developing skills and learning plans, and commissioning and/or delivering learning opportunities including training, workshops, facilitation and/or coaching. [E]
•Managing employment contracts to improve employee information and job security, especially where funding is short-term and project-based, with insights into good practice. [D]
•Delivering training and/or guidance to improve people-related functions to be delivered by line managers. [D]
•Working in a unionised organisation. [D]
Skills, abilities and attitudes
•Confidence and experience to take a leadership role on operational and people matters, working with the Chief Executive, Trustees and senior managers. [E]
•Strong problem-solving skills, and negotiation skills and the ability and confidence to provide insightful and constructive proposals and advice. [E]
•Excellent project management skills. [E]
•Aptitude for managing financial information and budgets. [D]
•Ability to communicate clearly and sensitively in writing and verbally, including on complex, confidential or contentious matters. [E]
•Proficiency with computer software and records management. [E]

Knowledge
•Knowledge and experience of end-to-end management of staff team members and their development: recruitment, induction and probation; learning experiences, skills and training; personal and career development; performance management; support for health and wellbeing; and HR processes. [E]
•Sound knowledge of UK HR and employment rules and statutory guidance, and their implementation in good practice. [E]
•Knowledge of IT, online and practical systems for improving processes and efficiency. [D]
 

Attitudes and personal qualities
•Highly organised and self-motivated, with the ability to work flexibly, independently and meet deadlines; whilst having the judgment to know when and who to consult before proceeding. [E]
•High integrity, with a professional, diplomatic, values-led, solutions-focused and collaborative approach to working with individuals and a wider team. [E]
•Commitment and ability to work at our office in East London regularly. [E]
•Demonstrable commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and racial justice. [E]
•Commitment to the mission and values of Sustain, and an interest in healthy and sustainable food and farming. [D]

Application closing date: Monday 14 September at 5pm (BST)

First stage interviews will take place (via Zoom) on: Wednesday 23 September 2026

Second stage interviews to take place in-person (London office) on: Wednesday 30 September 2026

Early applications are encouraged.

For any queries, please contact our recruitment team.

Noah's Ark Children's Hospice is partnering with Robertson Bell on a retained basis to recruit a Director of Finance on a permanent basis. This is an exciting opportunity to join a highly regarded children's hospice at a pivotal stage of its development, taking a leading role in strengthening financial performance, improving organisational effectiveness and helping shape the charity's next phase of growth.

This is more than a traditional Finance Director role. Noah's Ark has undergone significant transformation in recent years, moving from a predominantly community-based service to operating a 24/7 hospice facility at The Ark. The successful candidate will join at a critical point in this journey, with the opportunity to strengthen the finance function whilst working closely with the wider Senior Leadership Team to ensure the charity is making the best possible use of its resources and delivering maximum value for children and families.

For an ambitious, commercially minded finance leader, this is an opportunity to combine strong financial leadership with genuine organisational impact, helping to shape a more effective operating model and contributing directly to the future direction of the charity.

The role

• Partner with the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees to shape the charity's financial and strategic direction during a period of organisational change.
• Stabilise and strengthen the finance function, ensuring high-quality financial management, robust controls and accurate, insightful reporting.
• Lead the budgeting, forecasting and financial planning process, including modelling different care delivery approaches, investment decisions and longer-term strategic scenarios.
• Support the charity to improve its financial position, identifying opportunities to increase efficiency and ensure resources are being deployed to maximum effect.
• Oversee statutory accounts, external reporting, audit and regulatory requirements, ensuring the charity maintains strong financial governance and compliance.
• Ensure effective management of reserves, investments, cash flow, liquidity, insurance and restricted funds.
• Contribute to the development of the charity's next multi-year strategic plan, bringing commercial discipline, financial insight and a practical focus on delivery.
• Identify opportunities for cost efficiency and productivity improvements across the organisation, working collaboratively with colleagues to turn insight into action.
• Support the design and implementation of new IT and financial systems, ensuring they provide the information and controls required to support an effective organisation.
• Lead and develop a small finance team, setting clear expectations, building capability and creating a culture of accountability and high performance.
• Play an active role in wider organisational leadership, bringing constructive challenge and financial insight to decisions beyond the traditional finance remit.

The organisation

Noah's Ark Children's Hospice provides specialist care and support to babies, children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, alongside their families. Its purpose-built hospice, The Ark, opened in 2019 and provides a unique environment where children can receive specialist care, therapy, bereavement support and family services in a safe and welcoming setting.

Rated 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission, Noah's Ark supports families across North and Central London and Hertsmere, delivering care wherever it is needed - in the family home, within the community or at The Ark.

This is an organisation with a warm, supportive culture and a strong commitment to its values of Kindness, Excellence and Courage. It is now looking for a finance leader who can combine that collaborative approach with the confidence to challenge constructively, make difficult decisions and drive meaningful improvement.

Essential criteria

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Strong experience leading a finance function.
• Strong understanding of financial controls, governance, audit and statutory reporting.
• Demonstrable experience producing and interpreting high-quality financial information that supports effective decision-making.
• Experience leading and developing teams, with the confidence to set expectations, address underperformance and hold colleagues accountable.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders and non-finance colleagues.
• A proactive, hands-on and self-starting appr

About Us
Young Life International is a fast-growing Christian charitable organisation. Our aim is to share the message of Jesus with young people all over the UK. We do this through building relationships with them and earning the right to be heard.

Our Operations team strives to help our staff and volunteers to thrive by anticipating, developing and delivering excellent operational services and our Finance team focuses specifically on providing excellent financial services in a Christ-centred way.

About the Role
As the Finance Co-ordinator you will build good relationships with the wider staff team and be a friendly and knowledgeable source of advice for all queries relating to finance. As a key member of the team, you will be the primary user of many existing processes, and will be the key person in implementing new systems we are planning to enable us to be more efficient. You thrive on knowing you are using both your numerical and organisational skills and your relational skills to support others.

More Details and How to Apply
Download the Application Pack for the following information:

• Welcome from the Operations Director

• How this role fits into the wider YLI and Operations Team

• Full Job Description and Person Specification

• Details of how to apply online (application form)

• Deadline and interview dates

• YLI Faith and Conduct Policies - check we're in alignment with one another's beliefs

Accessibility & Support 

We want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. If you require any reasonable adjustments or accommodations at any stage of the application or interview process, please let us know. You can reach out to us in confidence at the email in our application pack, and we will be happy to support you.

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